Work bench including leg and frame construction



Aug. 1959 P. w. R. JOHNSON 2,901,301

WORK BENCH INCLUDING LEG AND FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 4, 1958 LLIIIIIII I, w 7 i 24 INVENTOR.

1% PETER w.R JOHNSON ATTOR N EY Unite WORK BENCH INCLUDlNG LEG AND FRAME CONSTRUCTION Application February 4, 1958, Serial No. 713,260

7 Claims. (Cl. 311-1) This invention relates to a work bench and more particularly to a work bench frame adaptable for various types of manufacturing and assembling operations.

An object of the present invention is to provide a work bench top and a rigid leg assembly. However, the present bench top may be used satisfactorily with a variety of other legs and associated connecting and reinforcing members.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a light but durable and strong frame for a work bench top in which the top itself may be easily and rapidly disconnected from the frame and replaced with another top. The present invention further contemplates easily installed, positive edge clamping members which correct minor warping of bench tops and prevent .the tops from walking away from the frame upon continued heavy impact of tools and machinery on the working surface of the tops.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple means for providing a reinforcing panel underneath the work bench top for extra heavy equipment and impact operations.

A further object of the present invention is to provide leg assembly having retaining means for rigidly securing each of the legs to the mounting plate of the table top.

Another object of the present invention is the particular spacing of the supporting ribs of the bench frame so that manufacturing, inspection and research equipment may be mounted thereon without interfering with bench supports or substructure.

The above and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

Fig. l is a top plan View of the work bench frame constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view thereof, being partly in section and partly in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a side view partly in elevation and partly in section of the work bench top frame illustrating the edge binders and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the triangular corner braces.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and especially to Figs. 1 and 2, the work bench frame constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises, a front member and rear member 12 which are preferably in the form of channels having inwardly projecting lips 14 and 16 respectively. End members 18 and 20 each connected to the front and rear members are of the same construction as front and rear mem bers 10 and 12 respectively and are provided with inwardly projecting lips 22 and 24. Reinforcing ribs 26 and 28 are connected to the front and rear members 10 and 12 across the width of the work bench frame and are spaced from each other a certain predetermined dis tance. The reinforcing ribs 26 and 28 both exhibit a ice hat-shaped cross-section. It will be apparent from a study of Fig. 2 that the present construction permits a work bench top 30 with a wear resistant top surface 31 to be secured to the crown surfaces 26a, 28a and 20a by means of screws or bolts (not shown) which are passed through the apertures 32 in both ribs 26 and 28 (Fig. 1). As seen in Fig. 2 a booster or additional support segment 34 may be inserted underneath the bench top 30 when heavy duty and impact operations are performed on the work bench. The support segment 34 rests on the bums 27 of the hat-shaped reinforcing ribs 26 and 28. It is also possible to place additional support segments between the reinforcing ribs and the adjacent end members 18 and 20 which rest underneath the bench top 30 and are supported by lips 22 and 24 respectively as well as the brims 27 of the hat-shaped ribs 26 and In any event, all the support segments 34, when used, have their front and rear portions resting on lips 1.4 and 16 respectively of the front and rear members.

In order to prevent the work bench top 3% from moving laterally due to the heavy impact of work operations on an L-shaped front edge binder 36 is secured to front member 10 by means of a bolt 38 inserted through a hole 49 in the front member 10. The bench top 33 has its wear-resistant top surface 31 cut. away to permit the leg 36a of the front edge binder 36 to engage the latter and to fit flush with the top surface 31. The edge binders 42 are similarly L-shaped and are provided with an elongated opening 44 having an enlarged end part 46. A bolt 43 with an enlarged head 50 is inserted through the enlarged end part 46 of opening 44 and moved laterally into the narrow portion of the opening 44. T hereafter, the bolt 48 is tightened through a hole (not shown) in one of the end members 14 and 16 whereupon the side edge binder 42, as well as the front edge binder 36, securely holds the work bench top 3% against movement or creep. The side edge binders 42 are easily and rapidly removed from the work bench frame by loosening bolt 48 and sliding the binders 42 sideways until the bolt head 50 is aligned with enlarged end part 46 of elongated opening 44. Thereupon, the side edge binder 42 may be lifted from the work bench frame.

It should be noted that the present work bench frame may be used with other leg supports, i.e.. the frame may be placed on existing work bench legs of a variety of types and shapes. However, the present invention contemplates the use of the unique supporting legs and accompanying structure which are illustrated in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4. In this connection, the leg 52 is provided with a base pad 54 adapted to rest on a floor and an inverted support cone 56 affixed to the upper end of leg 52. Each leg 52 is secured to the work bench frame by means of triangular support plate 58 having upstanding strengthening flanges 60 and a central aperture 62 (Fig. 4). The triangular support plates 58 are fixed in the corners of the work bench frame as seen in Fig. l and each leg 52 is secured to an adjacent support plate 58 by a fastening means such as a bolt 61 which is passed through central aperture 62 of the support plate 58. On the underside of support plate 58 is a bead or projection 64 against which the base of the support cone 56 is urged upon tightening of the bolt 61. Thus a firm, peripheral engagement of the base of the cone support 56 is achieved and a sturdy but quickly assembled and disassembled work bench support is provided.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the latter may be embodied otherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described and that in the illustrated embodiment certain changes in the details of construction and in the arrangement of parts may be made 3 without departing from the underlying. idea or principle of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A work bench. frame for use with a work top panel and selectively an additional reinforcing panel comprising a substantially rectangular frame member, a pair of supporting ribs secured to opposite sides of said frame member, each of said supporting ribs having a hatshaped cross-section whereby the work top panel is supported on the top of said supporting ribs and an ad ditional reinforcing panel may be supported by the opposing brims of said supporting ribs and upbearing said work top panel, and means secured to said frame member for clamping at least two edges of said work top panel to said Work bench frame.

2. A work bench frame for use with a work top panel and selectively an additional reinforcing panel comprising a substantially rectangular frame member, a plurality of legs secured to said frame member, each of said legs being provided at a part adjacent to said work top panel with a cone-shaped support member wherein the base of said cone fixedly engages said frame member, a pair of supporting ribs secured to opposite sides of said frame member, each of said supporting ribs having a hat-shaped crosssection whereby the work top panel is supported on the top of said supporting ribs and an additional reinforcing panel may be supported by the opposing brims of said supporting ribs and. upbearing said work top panel, and means secured to said frame member for clamping at least two edges of said work top panel to said Work bench frame.

3. A Work bench frame for use with a work top panel and selectively an additional reinforcing panel comprising a substantially rectangular frame member, a plurality of corner braces, each of said corner braces having a central aperture, a corresponding leg for each corner brace, each of said legs being provided at a part adjacent to said Work top panel with a cone-shaped support member, means for connecting each of said legs to a corresponding corner brace whereby the base of said cone firmly abuts the underside of said corner brace.

4. A work bench frame for use with a Work top panel and selec ively an additional reinforcing panel comprising a substantially rectangular frame member, at least two spaced, supporting ribs secured to opposite sides of said frame member, each of said supporting ribs having a hat-shaped cross-section whereby an additional rcinforcing panel maybe supported by the brim of each supporting rib.

5. A work bench frame for use with a Work top 4 panel and selectively additional reinforcing panel comprising a substantially rectangular frame member, a plurality of substantially triangular corner braces pro vided with upstanding strengthening flanges, each of said corner braces having a'central aperture therein and a head on the u ndersurface thereof, a corresponding leg for each corner brace, each of said legs being provided at a part adjacent to said work top panel with a cone shaped support means, means for connecting each of said legs to a corresponding corner brace whereby the base of said cone engages said corner brace and firmly abuts against said head. on the underside of the corner brace.

6. A workbench frame for use witha work top panel and selectively additional reinforcing panels comprising a substantially rectangular frame member, a pair of supporting ribs secured to opposite sides ofsaid frame member, said supporting. rib having a hat-shaped cross-section whereby the work top panel is supported on the top of each of said supporting ribs, means secured to said framemember for clamping the front and side edges of said work top panel to said work bench frame, and said rectangular frame member having interconnecting channels, each channel being provided with flanges projecting laterally and. inwardly of said work bench frame, and additional reinforcing panels supported by the opposing brims of said supporting ribs and at least one of said flanges.

7. An' edge clamp for use with a substantially rectangular work bench frame and a work top panel said work bench frame having oppositely disposed apertured chan nel members comprising; said edge clamp being L-shaped in cross-section and having an elongated slot with an enlarged end portion, a bolt securing means passing through said elongated slot and one of the adjacent apertures in said channel member, said edge clamp removably fixing said work top panel to said work bench frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 361,992 Cron Apr. 26, 1887 1,184,297 Balbach May23, 1916 1,268,181 Treiber June 4, 1918 1,400,432 Hahn Dec. 13', 1921 1,644,336 Gunlocke et al. Oct. 4, 1927 1,784,726 Hallowell Dec. 9, 1930 1,795,138 Ohi nstrand et al Mar. 3, 1931 2,006,502 Hallowell July 2, 1935 2,594,516 Swisher Apr. 29, 1952 2,714,540 Diehm Aug. 2, 1955 

